Hayley's 9 months old!

Hayley is 9 months old. Wow how the time flies! She had her 9 month appointment yesterday and here are her stats.

Weight: 21lbs and 15 oz
Height: 29 inches long

She is in 95 % for both. At 9 months old, Hayley has her 2 bottom teeth, is starting to wave, and has been saying "dada. She also just recently started army crawling. She likes music, her brother and sister, she loves to be on the go, she loves mimi's blue shoes and patty cake. She is more and more into baby food and her favorites are pears, vegetable beef, and applesauce.

I can't believe she is already 9 months old. She is such a good baby. She takes about 2 naps a day. She is now officially in her crib after being in her bassinet for oohhh 7 months...oops!

2008

2008 like any other year had it's ups and downs. Obviously one of my major highlights was having Hayley. One of the lows was Caleb being in the hospital for pneumonia and him almost drowning. But you could look at those being a big up too. He is healthy and still here. I guess you could say 2008 was in some ways one of my better years. This time 3 years ago I was watching my grandmother die from cancer. I can't believe it's been 3 years already. It feels like so much longer.
I wish you a Happy New Year full of good things!

Mother of the year

Wow, haven't been here in a while. I have come many times to post but decided against it. I have been in a funk lately. I would say a little depression with a little anger too.

We had a great time in Florida, it was exhausting but worth it to see the kid's faces. We did have one really frightening episode, and since I feel like mother of the year I haven't wanted to exactly talk about it all that much. The house we stayed at was nice, and had a pool. (you see where this is going right?) Well Caleb wanted to go swimming and my 3 aunts were by the pool and my 8 year old cousin was in the pool as well. There is this ledge in the deep end and Caleb was on it and apparently went off it. One of my aunts noticed and got him out, when I came out he was throwing up a lot of water and his lips looked blue. I started crying, trying not to freak but I couldn't help it. My aunt who is a nurse suggested that we go to urgent care just to be safe. So we did, and the Physicians assistant we saw said "I hate cases like this. He may appear fine, but there is a thing called dry drowning and he could die later" Umm thanks, and please don't be a little more sensitive since my 4 year old is right here with us! Anyways, they sent us to the ER for a chest x-ray to be safe. We got there and waited, and they acted like it was no big deal there. Finally we saw a Dr who listened to his lungs and said he was fine. I cried and asked if he could please have an x-ray. He told me that it would be unneccesary radiation, I said yes but I wanted to make sure that he was fine. The Dr. didn't seem pleased but agreed. But how could I just take his word when the other urgent care Dr said you couldn't tell? Not to mention he just got over pneumonia. He finally came back and the x-ray was clear. THANK THE LORD. That put a little damper in our vacation. I realized how so very lucky we were. I should have made sure my aunts knew he was out there. That is guilt I will just have to carry with me. Sometimes I feel like eventually my luck will run out.

I have been feeling a little angry lately because I am getting sick of our basement not being partly finished. We are going on over a year now. We aren't even doing the whole thing! We just have to wait to do it whenever my FIL is available. Ugh so frustrating! But the closet did get done, and even though it's kind of a shitty paint job, you won't be looking that hard. I started moving some stuff into it today so Hayley can finally have a room! Yay! They are supposed to do the ceiling this weekend. We are going to have someone else do the carpet.

Bart is in Dallas this week. He comes home Friday night at 11 pm, and then has to leave for Dallas again on Sunday for another week. They did this last year and really the timing sucks because I am no where near done Christmas shopping. Although I did go out on Black Friday.

Oh and since Bart's insurance decided to change their payments we now have to shell out 800.00 for Caleb's hospital stay when he has pneumonia. Ugh! Bart's insurance used to rock, and now it sucks! Why is it always around Christmas too? Plus we just put 300.00 into the van, and now it sounds like Bart's car needs brakes. It never ends. Hey at least gas is going down.

Florida Day 1

We left yesterday morning for the airport at 4:30 am. I didn't hardly sleep that night. I was anxious about flying with 3 kids. We checked our bags and went through security, and since Meghan could not be right with my mom she started crying. Thankfully she got over it, and then we just waited. We got on the plane, and we were off to JFK! The kids did really well, at lot better than I expected. Their ears didn't seem to bother them, and they did well. We landed at JFK, and waited and then boarded for Orlando. The kids did well, and were getting a little restless towards the end of the 2 hour flight. Poor Bart, I am know that I am a super beyatch when I am stressed and fly. For some reason he doesn't seem to stress about flying with 3 kids while managing not to lose anything.

We landed in Orlando, and were waiting for our stroller, and the guy brought it and told me how much he hated our stroller. It was awkward he said. Umm there were people that had a huge jogger stroller but ours was too big and awkward. I did notice that they lost the clip that holds my stroller shut, and hooks I had on there for shopping bags. Irritating. I didn't want to bring this stroller because I was afraid they would break it, but I didn't want to buy another one.

We then went to get our rental car, and we got a Chevy Malibu..um yeah I was not optimistic considering that we needed to have 3 car seats and fit 4 suitcases, 3 backpacks, and a stroller. So we tried to make it work because a van would be 300-400 more. This was fun when the kids were running around and we are trying to install 3 car seats and luggage, while sweating our ass off. I asked Bart if he could see how much more it would cost for a van, because there was no way this was happening. Thankfully, and I really am SO GRATEFUL, they said it would be no extra charge. THANK.THE.LORD!!!! So we got a new Dodge Caravan and had plenty of room.

We found the house which is big, and spacious. We unpacked and then went to Arby's! Yum! We don't have one in Vermont. I also want to hit a Sonic, because we don't have those either. My dad lent us his GPS, and I am in love. Seriously, so easy to use, and so nice! We came back, and then Bart and I headed to the grocery store. Can I just say, the groceries are so much cheaper here and so is gas! We saw gas for $ 2.10.

All in all it was not as bad as I expected it to be, the kids were beat and cranky but so was I. We haven't made plans on what we are going to do today yet. But the kids were up early!

Batman, Cinderella, and a ladybug!

The kids had a blast trick-or-treating. We went to my sister's house, she lives in nice neighborhood, and since we live in the boonies, we get more houses this way. Plus my kids like hanging with their cousins.

I am packing for Florida and Disney! I am excited, and anxious! I realize that this won't be much of a vacation, but I can't wait to see the kids faces when we go to Disney. They will be so excited. I am excited to see my friend Jessica, who I haven't seen in a while. She is driving up to meet us for the weekend. Hopefully flying with 3 kids won't be horrible, that is what I am most anxious about.

I have included some pics from Halloween! I did Meg's hair, I think it looks pretty good! She actually stood still while I did it.

Pumpkin Carving

Last night we carved pumpkins. Meghan chose Cinderella, although it didn't turn out so hot. Caleb wanted Wubbzy, and Bart and I did a Red Sox one. They had fun, and so did we!

Hayley is 6 months old!

Hayley is 6 months old today! I can't believe that she is already 6 months old. We had her 6 month appointment, and she weighs 19lbs 10oz, and was 28 inches long. I think her head circumference was 45? Anyways she is in 97 percentile for all of it. At least she is proportionate! She had 4 shots, including the flu shot. Poor little girl! But she actually didn't cry as much as she usually does.
She enjoys her exersaucer, watching her big brother & sister, squeeling, and eating.
Here are some pics from each month!

The day she was born! April 22, 2008 9:14 am



May



June



July



August



September



October

Randomness

Caleb and Meghan had a doctor's appointment yesterday to check their pneumonia. He thought they were doing well. I asked him if he thought we should get a flu shot for them considering they had pneumonia. He suggested we should. So we decided to get them one. I felt guilty because I didn't warn them or anything. I feel bad for the nurse, because Caleb screamed bloody murder while she was washing his arm with a alcohol wipe. I think my hearing is just returning. Since Caleb went first, Meghan realized that it was bad, so I pretty much had to hold her down. Some how I am the one doing the holding while Bart is watching...

We then went to pick out a toy, because they had earned all the stickers for their chart. Since they had a hard time taking antibiotics I made a sticker chart and yes, I bribed them. Hey, it worked and now I am 40.00 out but didn't have to fight. Another bonus is that then they play happily for about a day with their new toys.

I went shopping last night for something to wear for a wedding this Friday. I went with my sister and whenever I go with her, I spend much more money than I would if I went alone. I did find a dress, (even though I loathe them), I think will look decent. Speaking of which, Fashion Bug has a new system for their pants...pretty much it makes you *think* you are smaller, but I would like to know what size I really am.


Leaves changing color


Meghan at dance

Thankful

Bart and I went to his appointment which lasted 3 hours, and found out that most likely the reason he is missing the spots on the vision test is because of Drusen. And because the tests show no pattern it means that it isn't linked to a stroke, or brain tumor. He has to go back in 6 months just to review. I am so thankful, that it is just Drusen. I think Bart was a lot more worried then he showed, and I think that it put things into perspective for him, and me. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I certainly have lots to be thankful for.

We actually had a weekend with not much going on and it was nice. Bart, Caleb, and Meghan all got haircuts and we celebrated my mom's birthday. Caleb and Meghan are feeling better, and back to preschool. Hayley is also feeling better. We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to do a check-up on Caleb and Meghan to make sure that they are getting over pneumonia.

Caleb has decided to be Batman for Halloween, Meghan is going to be Cinderella, and I am not sure what Hayley is going to be. I can't believe we are already in October! In about a month we leave for Disney! I am so excited!

Worries

I now have 3 kids on antibiotics. Hayley was up most of last night crying, not sleeping, which is so not like her. I brought her in today, and she has an ear infection. Poor girl! I am running on fumes, I am so tired. I just want to sleep like 5 hours straight at least without waking up at all.

Bart went back to his eye appt, and didn't pass that test again and now he has an appointment tomorrow with a specialist. They said it could last 3-4 hours. I am not sure what they are going to do there, maybe an MRI? I am really worried sick about it. I have been trying to block it out, but I can't. Can you please pray that it's nothing? My stomach is in knots.

Pneumonia times two

Well Caleb never ended up feeling better, in fact he was so lethargic that I called the Dr.'s again on Friday to get him in. Meghan didn't want to stay with Gram so we all packed up and headed to the Dr's office. I brought Caleb in and the Dr. listened to his lungs, said they sounded clear and then did his oxygen which gave a reading of 86. He then said we need to take him to the ER because he needed a chest x-ray but thought he might have pneumonia. So me, gram, Meg, Hayley, and Caleb headed to the ER. We got there and the nurse even said his lungs sound clear, we went in a room and waited. He got an x-ray done and sure enough he had pneumonia pretty bad, in both lungs. He had 2 bags of fluids and then we just waited. They admitted him and we stayed Friday, and Saturday night. Bart left early from Boston and made it to the ER in time for us to be moved to a room. We feel like we have been going on high for the whole weekend.

Friday night was scary because we took his oxygen off so he could go in the bathroom and then we he came out and put his oxygen monitor back on it went way down again and he started having a huge coughing fit and nurses were in and out and then the pediatric resident was in there. They had to turn up his oxygen up to 5.5 liters and the highest is six before you need a mask. Then they had someone from respitory therapy come in and pretty much pound on his chest every two hours. This was so hard to watch, poor Caleb.

Saturday was a little better, and he slept pretty well during the night. Meghan also has had a fever and nasty cough as well so while I was at the hospital my mom, sister and Bart were helping me out. They took Meghan to the Dr. on Saturday and they told them to come back on Sunday if she got worse or stayed the same. My mom watched Meg and Hayley Saturday night and she said Meghan was up all night coughing. The Dr. ordered her an x-ray and turns out she has pneumonia too in her lower left lung. Thankfully we caught it in time and she is on antibotics.

Now we are all home, and getting some much needed rest. I haven't had a full night's sleep in a week. I am hopefully looking forward to them getting better and things returning to normal around here. Pneumonia is not contagious, unless it's viral but some how Meghan and Caleb both got it...maybe it's a twin thing. LOL

Look at my poor little guy!

Mommy needs some sleep!

Since Tuesday night I have been dealing with this awful cold or virus with Caleb. He had a high fever, was not himself at all, just laying around and hasn't eaten barely since Tuesday. I took him to the Dr on Wednesday. Strep? No. The Dr concluded that it was a virus, but you could tell he was worried too, since Caleb was so not himself. I thought it might be the stomach bug, since he threw up after any dose of Tylenol or Motrin, but I am pretty sure he just has a really good gag reflex.
Oh did I mention that Bart is gone until late tonight? Yeah, good times. Meghan also got a fever on Wednesday but she is a champion medicine taker, and it doesn't seem to be hitting her as hard. Which I am very thankful for.

I have not gotten any sleep at all over the past 2 days. Caleb has been up, switching to my bed, then back to his bed, he's hot and then he's cold. I called the Dr. on call for Wednesday night because he had a fever of 104.2 , um aren't you supposed to go the ER if you have a fever above 103? The Dr. on call was my least fav, and he was actually really not sympathetic or nice. Caleb's regular Dr. had called earlier to check on him, which I was surprised but I think he was worried like me. Thurday morning the Dr's office called to check on him again. For some odd reason the nurse thought that I took him to the ER? I said no I didn't. Odd.

So that has been the rest of my week. Good times all around! Now I will probably get it. All I can say is Bart owes me.

Busy, Busy!

Man, I have been going non-stop lately. Bart is gone to Boston for a week on business so my mom (thank God) has been helping me with the kids. I am so tired, Caleb and Meghan woke up a combination of 3 times last night. Each once to pee and then once to cover Meghan up. They rise and shine at 6:30 to get them ready for preschool. Today Meghan has dance. At least the week is going by relatively quick.
I had a good weekend, Bart and I got a lot of house things done, and we went to a gospel concert with the kids on Saturday night. They are a quartet from Texas, and did a free concert for our small church. The kids enjoyed it, but they all fell asleep during the concert. I am not sure how, since it was loud.
Sunday School started up again, and we are back to church. And man what a difference a year makes, because the kids are so much different this year. They went to Sunday School without blinking an eye and Bart and I actually go to listen to a whole service! It was great. The in-laws came up and we worked some on our ever going project, the basement.

Hayley was 5 months old yesterday! I can't believe how time flies. She is getting so big, and she is talking a lot more, and rolling over all the time and is very nosy, she loves to watch people.

I am still really worried about Bart, and am trying to hand over my worries to God, but that is a really hard thing to do right now.

Worried

I am a person that worries a lot. I might not come off that way but I do. And I know that worrying about something you know may or may not happen, is silly and a waste of time etc, but still I can't help it.
Bart had an eye appt. today. He did some eye test, and I guess he did worse than they expected him to do on it, and told him that he had to do another test some other time. They also told him that in a small number of patients, it could be a brain tumor. The Dr. said that in 10,000 patients only a handful had a tumor. I am sure you can see where I am going with this...I am worried about it. I keep trying not to be, but I can't help it. I have to wait two weeks before he has this other test, and I am worried about it.
Because I believe in the power of prayer, could you please say a prayer for Bart, for me? Ugh. I hate worrying.

Monday, Monday

Monday morning started with our power going off at about I would guess 4 a.m. and it was unseasonably hot, then Caleb woke up and yelled to daddy because of course his nightlight was off. Bart got him a flashlight and we proceeded to go back to bed...but Caleb had a hard time, so I gave in and said come in our bed. He gets in, we are all settled and then I hear a panicked Meghan yell "DADDY!!" She is freakin, so I go sleep with her. If you even call it sleep, I think I got a 1/2 hour in before we had to get ready for preschool. Why is it that my 4 year olds are still getting me up in the middle of the night and my 4 month old sleeps through?

I got Caleb and Meghan off to preschool and headed to go grocery shopping. While there my trunk on my van, the arm of it came off again and I had to hold it up myself. My arms are so sore today. Then I came home, and broke a picture frame. Ugh! I tell ya!

Amazingly enough the rest of the day was okay. Apparently I have a black hole in my house, because I can't find my Ipod, or an attachment to my vacuum. My house is small, I don't understand where these things went to! So frustrating.

Random crap

I have had a busy week! It all started on Friday when I had to make 2 apple pies for the Church's chicken pie supper on Saturday. I had to make my own pie crust too. But alas I finally made them with the help of my gram too. I did notice she made me try everything before helping me. I know she wanted me to do it for myself. While she was here she took the extra pie crust and had Caleb and Meghan put sugar and cinnamon on it then baked it. Man, did that bring me back to my childhood, I remember her making that with me.

Saturday I went to a bridal shower for one of my high school friends. I felt a little out of place, and realized that I didn't really know her much at all. Once I had kids I feel like a lot of my friends dropped off the face of the earth. I guess that happens when you have kids, and frankly it sucks.

Not much else is going on, just random crap. Our DVR crapped out and I lost all my shows that I haven't watched. But you gotta love re-runs! Now we have a new DVR and it holds even more hours. I never knew how much I depended on that, which is really sad. Oh and I finally got my good camera back! But they did send it back without my strap, which is annoying but they gave me another one to use until they get mine back. I am debating whether or not to take an online course for photography...I am just not sure if I will have the time. It does make me a little nervous too, I haven't taken a class in a long time.

Tagged

The Rules:
Link the Person who Tagged you.
Mention rules on your blog.
Tell about 6 quirks of yours.
Tag 6 fellow bloggers to do the same.

1.) I rinse out my cup before I use it. Coffee cup, glass, whatever.

2.) I also prefer blue over black ink (must be an Aries thing, Autumn!)

3.) I love to vacuum.

4.) I don't eat the end of french fries if they are crunchy.

5.) I have to have a blanket or something covering me when I sleep, even if it's hot out.

6.) I have to cross every day off the calendar.

I tag, Heidi, Nessa, Elisa, and whoever else feels so inclined!

Missing Juliette

Last night I got a call from my gram around 8:00 p.m. and she said that Juliette had gotten out again. So I gave Bart Hayley and put on my sneakers and grabbed a flashlight. I met gram outside and we went wandering around in her usual places and she was no where to be found. I walked towards the main road and gram stayed behind. I was yelling Juliette's name. I saw a guy and he asked if I was looking for a dog. I told him yes, fully expecting him to say that he saw one running after the horses. Nope. He told me that he just hit one. I guess the hopeful part of me was hoping he would say she was still alive and we could take her to the vet...but no poor Juliette is gone. She was only 1.5 years old. I asked the man if he would come with me to tell my gram. Man that was hard, we were both crying and then I had to explain it to my kids. Juliette is like their dog too since we live next door, and like me we loved that dog. So did my gram, it was her companion and she loved to take care of her. I feel so incredibly bad for my gram. She had only had the dog 1.5 years!

Caleb cried and cried, he asked a lot of questions and kept saying he misses Juliette over and over. Seeing your kid hurt, is so hard to watch. I tried to be as honest as I could be, but they still didn't understand. After I got them settled down and in bed I went back up to be with gram. I didn't feel like she should be alone. We sat for a little while and she told me that Juliette would be laying on her lap right now.

Today had been hard for Gram, me and the kids. Before I would have said I am not one for dogs...but this has me heartbroken. If you are the praying type, could you please say a few prayers for my gram. Thanks.

First day of Preschool

Today was Caleb and Meghan's first day of preschool! It went a little better than I expected. Meghan did cry when I dropped her off, but they she seemed to do okay and I left. Caleb was Mr. Serious and then went off without even saying goodbye. They got to ride the bus home. Overall they seemed to have a good day! After I dropped them off, I came home, changed and went for a walk with Hayley. After my walk I had breakfast and coffee and Hayley took a nap. It was so quiet! I didn't know what to do with myself!

I hate little tiny shoes...

When did Polly Pocket and Disney princess shoes run my life? Why does everything need to come to a screeching halt when we can't find a tiny freakin shoe? WHY CAN'T THEY MAKE THEM SO THEY FREAKIN STAY ON?!!! Meghan goes from playing nice and quiet to full meltdown mode when she loses a damn shoe. Crying, hysterical, meltdown.
Damn Polly Pocket and her tiny annoying accessories!